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Novita Dewi
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Novita Dewi
novitadewi@usd.ac.id; novitadewi9@gmail.com
The Graduate Program in English Language Studies, Universitas Sanata Dharma
Abstract
Translation of a literary work requires the balance between staying faithful to the essence of the
original work while creating an artistic, unique, and distinctive piece of work in the translated
language so as to evoke the same feelings and responses as the source language. Examining a number
of translation strategy used in the translation of Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s short story “Inem” into
English, this study shows that the translation product is to be applauded for two reasons. First,
transnational translation of Pram’s work, that is rich in local culture, can connect and define both
Indonesian and English cultures better in order to enhance global-local connectedness. Secondly,
thanks to the translator, the (recreated) work becomes accessible to readers interested in learning
each other’s language and culture.
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Journal of Language and Literature
ISSN: 1410-5691 (print); 2580-5878 (online) Novita Dewi
English as global language that makes one of Pram’s early works along with 10 other
translation of literary works never simple but short stories compiled in his Cerita dari Blora,
often laden with differing ideologies (Dewi, firstly published in 1950 by. “Inem” is
2017). Literary translation into English every translated into English by Willem Samuels
so often ignores minor languages including a.k.a. John McGlynn and published by
Indonesian. Not surprisingly, the translations Hyperion in 2004. “Inem” is a story about
of literature from minor language to another early marriage set in a poor area inhabited by
minor language are mostly from English. people with different social levels that
becomes the setting of the story.
The wealth of research on literary
translation from Indonesian into English has Theoretical Concepts
shown that numerous translation strategies
need to be employed to achieve satisfactory Literary translation should reflect the
results (e.g. Putranti, 2015; Kaparang & depth and meaning of one literary work in
Putranti, 2017; Tirtayasa & Setiajid, 2018; one language while preserving its style, pace,
Darta, 2018), thanks to such magnum opus of and rhythms in the target language. Scrutiny
translation theory from Eugene Nida, Peter of the links between the thought of the
Newmark, John Catford and Mildred Larson, novelist and that of the translator is
to the more recent theorists like Mona Baker important since literary translation cannot be
and André Lefevere. Putranti (2015) claims of literal translation, but interpretative one. It
that the use of synonymy is needed to is always easy for literature readers to
compensate for the absence of literal understand such cultural aspects as customs,
translation, given the different idiomatic practices, and traditions represented in
expressions in English and Indonesia. literature written in their own language. A
Kaparang & Putranti (2017) further maintain translator therefore has to deliver the
that Newmarkian strategy of communicative knowledge to a reader outside the country
translation is important in translating one who perhaps not familiar with the source
Indonesian novel with a lot of metaphors into language, to say nothing of the cultural
English. Departing from Catfordian linguistic peculiarities of it.
theory of shift at the micro-level, Tirtayasa &
Setiajid (2018) have also proven that Postcolonial translation seems to be
pragmatic and stylistic consideration is useful fitting for such purpose. To mention but two,
in translating one Indonesian poem which is Lefevere (1992) and Tymoczko (1999) offer
contextually rich and layered in meaning. translation theory in postcolonial context.
Darta (2018), likewise, examines the They argue that translation is often framed,
politeness strategy used in the translation of Eurocentric and ideologically manipulated.
one Indonesian novel to unravel the power- The translation of non-Western texts into
relation therein. English for global audience is loaded with
Orientalist thinking. They suggest that not
While the aforementioned studies remain only should translation articulate the voice
useful references, this present study pays and stance of the translator, it should also
attention more to the cultural implications of make room for its relevance to the target
transnational translation of literature. It is a audience. Next, it was Edwin Gentzler (2008:
preliminary analysis on a number of passages 5) who emphasizes that translation is not a
taken from one selected Indonesian short secondary process of transporting ideas
story by Pramoedya Ananta Toer entitled across borders, but instead “primary,
“Inem”. Pram’s works are rich with local primordial and proactive process that
cultures. Sunarto and others (2017) argue continually introduces new ideas, forms or
that it is important to introduce local expressions, and pathways for change into
languages and cultures along with their cultures”. Thus, translation has to comply
wisdom widely not only at the national but with (1) recognition of the global context; (2)
also international level to enhance national values and perspectives exchanges and (3)
and global mobility. Therefore, the data cross-border and cultural understanding
source is Pram’s short story “Inem” which is articulacy. Dewi has claimed that translation
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Vol. 19 No. 1 – April 2019 ISSN: 1410-5691 (print); 2580-5878 (online)
involves interdisciplinary, interlingual, and translator have a feeling for the language,
intercultural activity (2016: 69). Translation s/he should be fascinated with it. The
should function as a negotiation channel to translator should therefore has an intimate
maintain distinct national identities in global knowledge of the source language (SL) and of
cultural context. The essence of postcolonial the regional culture and literature, to say
translation lies on this inevitable global-local nothing of some reasonable knowledge of
cultural border-crossing (Dewi 2018). subjects dealt with in the work. Secondly, the
translator should be familiar with other
To become a literary translator therefore works by the author being translated. The
requires an acquired taste, fortitude, and third qualification is the hardest, i.e. “the
aptitude. It is not an exaggeration to say that translator must be a skilled and creative
literary translators are but unsung heroes for writer in the target language and nearly
their names sometimes gain little recognition. always will be a native speaker of it.”
The translators remain anonymous, while the (Samuelsson-Brown 2010: 5). As it is, the
author whose work(s) they translated translator should be able to move from style
becomes famous. Excepting for Gregory to style when translating different works.
Rabassa the American literary translator from Fourthly, the original work’s meaning is still
Spanish and Portuguese to English known for the goal to achieve by the translator instead of
translating Gabriel García Márquez’s One the accurate rendering of words for words.
Hundred Years of Solitude and his other Finally, in order to produce a translated piece
works, for instance, very few translators make that reads well, the translator should be
name for themselves. Nobody cares for the capable of echoing the tone and style of the
translator of Thomas Mann’s Death in Venice original work.
(Samuelsson-Brown 2010: 5). If it was not for
the works of the late Listiana Srisanti, the first Absence of Address Terms
few series of Harry Potter would not be
available in Indonesian version for thousands The English version of the story, using
of fans of J. K. Rowling’s books in the country. the same title “Inem”, appears in All That is
Other examples abound, but it is sufficient for Gone that comprises of 7 other early short
now to say that literary translation has its stories by Pramoedya Ananta Toer. The
own theory-practice link in reading, translator needs no introduction because he is
interpreting, and composing a new creation – a John H. McGlynn, an American editor and
all have been the tasks handled very well by translator whose Indonesian language is of
notable literary translators. near-native category with supreme interests
in Indonesian literature. This graduate of
To translate literary text, the first of the Indonesian Literature Department at the
three translation categories (interpreting, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor is one of
scientific/ technical, commercial/business the architects of the Lontar Foundation that
translation) by Samuelsson-Brown (2010) is promotes Indonesian literature and culture
useful. Some of the criteria in interpretive internationally by translating major works in
translation to meet include: a sense of Indonesian literature. Having lived in Jakarta
language, cultural knowledge about the since early 1980s, McGlynn is hailed as “the
subject of translation, an understanding of a Indonesian country editor” for Manoa, a
similar work and creative writing skills. The literary journal published by the University of
translation of literary works puts more Hawaii while serving as editor to other
importance on the meaning. Therefore, the prominent literary journals pertaining to
translator must be adept when moving from Indonesian literature. Under the name Willem
one creative style to another. Samuelsson- Samuels, McGlynn also translated Pram’s The
Brown then asserts that qualities matter more Fugitive, The Mute Soliloquy, The Girl from the
than qualifications, while listing a number of Coast and many more.
requirements for a literary translator based
on the Translators Associations of the Society Despite his flawless translation of “Inem”,
of Authors (2010: 5-6). The first requirement the translator’s technique of omission and/or
is the translator’s passion. Not only should a addition of honorifics and interjection is
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Journal of Language and Literature
ISSN: 1410-5691 (print); 2580-5878 (online) Novita Dewi
worth discussing. To begin with how the Social class difference is therefore not
characters address each other in both seen in the English translation of “Inem”,
versions, several address terms used in the whereas the original short story clearly
original work either disappear or domesticate displays the disparity of thoughts between the
in the translated version. Honorific is defined narrator’s mother and Inem’s mother. Inem
by Nordquist as “a conventional word, title, or was presumably a real figure who lived in the
grammatical form that signals respect, house of Pram's family (Hatley, 1980), and
politeness, or social deference” Muk’s mother in the short story was inspired
(https://www.thoughtco.com/honorific- by Pram's own mother.
definition-and-examples-1690936). The
courtesy title for the child narrator in “Inem” As mentioned elsewhere, Pram’s works
is non-existent, thus: reflect anti-feudalistic attitudes (Dewi,
2018a). The conversation between the two
ST: “Gus Muk, aku akan dikawinkan!” women of different social strata is naturally
(Toer, 1994: 39) left in the translation as if they were equals, as
TT: “I’m going to be married!” shown by the following passage quoted at
(Toer, 2004: 31) length.
Here the term “Gus” before the proper The day that Inem’s mother came to call,
name “Muk”, that is also Pramoedya’s own Inem was in the kitchen, heating water. When
childhood nickname, shows that Inem locates mother went to greet her visitor, I tagged
herself in a lower position than her young along as they convened to the sitting room,
master with whose family she lives. Culturally where they arranged themselves on a low
speaking, “Gus”, a short for “Raden Bagus” is wooden daybed.
commonly used to call someone’s son. In
general Islamic boarding schools in Java, the It was Inem’s mother who opened the
name is given to the son of a school chaplain conversation: “Ma’am, I’ve come to ask to
of the Islamic boarding school or “kiyai” (See, take Inem home.”
e.g. Zakiyah, 2018). Despite the fact that the “But why? Isn’t it better for her here?” my
term “kiyai” itself in the history of Javanese mother inquired. “You don’t have to pay
culture has many meanings, i.e. all Islamic anything for her to stay here, and she’s
scholars or religious teachers at Islamic learning how to cook.”
boarding schools, the son of a respected “I know that, ma’am, but I plan for her to
teacher, as in the case of Pram’s father, is get married after the harvest is in.”
bestowed with “Gus” out of respect. It is “Married?!” My mother was shocked.
worth noting that the terms “kiyai” and “Gus” “Yes, ma’am. She’s old enough – all of eight
had long been a tradition before Nahdlatul now,” Inem’s mother said in affirmation.
Ulama was established in 1928 – the most […]
famous one being K. H. Abdurrahman Wahid “We’re not rich people, ma’am, and the way
or Gus Dur (Mahfud, 2010). I see it, she’s already too old. Asih, as you
know, she had her daughter married off
The English version of “Inem” never when she was two years younger.”
really mentions the name of the narrator. (Toer, 2004: 34)
Conversely, readers of the Indonesian text
need not to wonder what the name of the To compare with the original,
child story-teller is, as it is mentioned again
thus: Waktu emak si Inem menemui ibu, Inem
sedang memasak di dapur. Aku turut
ST: “Tujuh belas? Bapak si Mamuk baru menemui emaknya. Dan tamu itu, ibu dan
kawin dengan aku waktu dia berumur aku duduk di bale berwarna merah.
tigapuluh tahun.” (Toer, 1994: 43) “Ndoro”, kata emak si Inem, “aku datang
TT: “Seventeen! My husband was thirty untuk meminta si Inem”
when he married me.” (Toer, 2004: 36) “Mengapa si Inem diminta? Bukankah
lebih baik kalau dia ada di sini? Engkau
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tak perlu mengongkosi dan dia bisa idiomatic expression. At the same time, the
belajar masak. translator maintains the democratic tone of
“Tapi, ndoro, habis panen ini aku the conversation.
bermaksud menikahkan dia.”
“Ha?” seru ibu kaget. “Dinikahkan?’ Reconstruction as Translation
“Ya, ndoro. Dia sudah perawan sekarang –
sudah berumur delapan tahun,” kata A discussion on strategy must focus on the
emak si Inem. translator’s attempt to restructure the
[…] sentences in ST that may be not idiomatic
“Kami bukan dari golongan priyayi, ndoro. when translated word-for-word in TT. It
Aku pikir dia sudah ketuaan setahun”, would seem that McGlynn, being an avid
kata mbok Inem, “Si Asih itu reader of Indonesian Literature including
mengawinkan anaknya dua tahun lebih Pram’s works, takes the voice and stance of
muda dari anakku.” (Toer, 1994: 41) the author as postulated by Lefevere and
Tymoczko above. It is the translator’s
translation of the above passage is clearly comprehensive knowledge and
another creation. Inem’s mother in the understanding of Indonesian culture that has
English version comes across as confidence given him confidence in reconstructing
and affirmed. The kampong woman shows no Pram’s work to suit English ears as in, for
hesitation to talk to a person of higher status. example, Cerita Calon Arang into The King, the
The use of “ma’am” to address the narrator’s Priest and the Witch (Darta, 2018). What
mother is equal to the word “bu” or “ibu”, follows is the ways in which McGlynn used
hence does not convey subordinate tone as in restructuring as a handy strategy in the
the term “ndoro”. English version of “Inem”.
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ISSN: 1410-5691 (print); 2580-5878 (online) Novita Dewi
The second type of reconstruction the same feelings and responses as the
includes structure shift, i.e. a change in original. Literary translation is a precise,
grammatical structure between passive voice careful, and thoughtful reading followed
in ST and active voice in TT (in Munday, subsequently by an equally precise, careful,
2013). The use of prefix “di” in ST for all and thoughtful (re)writing of the literary
passive verbs is reconstructed in active verbs work. Unlike other technical writing, literary
in TT to some degree of success. In translation carries the weight of
Indonesian, “disipati” means to apply an eye communicative and aesthetic purposes.
lid, characteristic of Javanese bridal make-up.
The use of an eye lid is aimed at accentuating This study has shown that the translation
the eye, correcting the shape of the eye, and of Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s “Inem” is an
giving the impression of eyelash thickness. attempt to create another text to carry the
What appears in TT, i.e. “mascara, and eye egalitarian stance of the author. To achieve
shadow” is a free translation to carry the this end, the translator reconstructs some
same meaning. Next, the word “dicelaki” parts of the source text to fit in with
meaning blackening of the eyebrows and part understanding of the target text reader. The
of the pattern-drawn forehead is however omission of honorifics is a noticeable skill
omitted in TT. Reconstruction is a useful used by the notable translator.
learning of each other’s language for a non-
native speaker of English and of Indonesian By way of reflection, if it is true that
alike. reading literature is reading (other) people
and reading ourselves, literary translation
Thirdly, the translator is aware of the product examined in this study truly brings
need to reconstruct the original text to fulfill the Indonesian readers to appreciate more
the communicative function in translation. about local culture now shared globally via
Here, as often the case in translating other translation. It is translation that allows such
Indonesian literary works, sense is indeed pride of local and national language,
thing of significance in order to maintain both literature, and culture to travel worldwide,
literariness (Tirtayasa & Setiajid, 2018) and thanks to the translators –John McGlynn being
naturalness (Putranti, 2015; Kaparang & one of them– who are frequently left invisible.
Putranti, 2018). Cultural words in “Inem” are When Charles Batteux quoted in the
left not translated, hence another evident of beginning of this article talks about the
recreation as a strategy in translation. They “master of nothing” of a translator, he talks
are kebaya the hip-length buttoned blouse instead about the translator’s possession of
(Toer, 2004: 39); kain expensive length of everything: arts, genius and diplomacy.
batik from Solo (Toer, 2004: 39); wayang kulit
performance (Toer, 2004: 40); gamelan
orchestra, female tayuban dancers (Toer,
2004: 40). It appears that the explanation that
follows each word is sufficient to carry the
message to the readers who are not familiar References
with Indonesian and its local culture. In so
doing, the translator has accomplished his Adewuni, Salawu. (April 2006). Narrowing the
noble undertaking to build global-local Gap between Theory and Practice of
connectivity through transnational
Translation. Translation Journal, 10(2)
translation earlier said by Gentzler (2008)
and Dewi (2018). from
https://translationjournal.net/journal/3
Conclusion 6yoruba.htm. Retrieved 15 August, 2018.
Translation of a literary work requires the Darta, Deta Maria Sri. (October 2018). The
balance between staying faithful to the Translation of Politeness Strategies
original work and creating an artistic, unique, Associated with Power Relation in
and distinctive piece of work so as to evoke
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Journal of Language and Literature
Vol. 19 No. 1 – April 2019 ISSN: 1410-5691 (print); 2580-5878 (online)
Pramoedya’s Cerita Calon Arang and The Supernova: the Knight, the Princess, and
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address-1692533. Retrieved August 13,
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Kaparang, Alexander I. & Adventina Putranti. Mutilingual Matters.
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Strategies of Metaphors in Dee’s
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